622 SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp636–8 and pp639–41

Koprivshtitsa 9

Копривщица

Considered one of Bulgaria’s most
attractive towns due to its many fine
National Revival houses, Koprivshtitsa
was founded in the 14th century. It
was originally a rich centre of cattle
farm ing. Under Ottoman rule its citi-
zens were granted autonomy in return
for collect ing taxes on behalf of the
Ottoman Empire. In the early 19th cen-
tury, Koprivshtitsa’s pros perity attracted
kûrdzhali (bandits), who plundered
and torched the town on several occasions. It was
during the ensuing period of recon struction that its
colourfully painted wood and stone houses were built.
Koprivshtitsa was also the home of several of Bulgaria’s
leading revolutionaries, and it was here that the momen-
tous April Rising of 1876 (see p602) was declared.

R Church of Sveta
Bogoroditsa
ul. Dimcho Debelyanov 26.

irregular hours. 5

The blue-walled Church of
Sveta Bogoroditsa played a
memorable role in Bulgarian
history. On 20 April 1876, its

The Church of Sveta Bogoroditsa, whose bell proclaimed the April Rising

P Kableshkov House

ul. Todor Kableshkov 8. Tel (0359)

7184 2054.# 9am–5pm Tue–Sun.

&

This imposing building

was the home of Todor

Kableshkov, leader of the

April Rising. He declared the

start of the upris ing with his

Bloody Letter, writ ten in the

blood of the revolutionaries’

first Turkish victim. The

house was built in 1845 to

a symmetrical design, the

central salons on both floors

flanked by identi cal rooms.

The central bay on the upper

floor has stepped win dows

and a decorated ceiling.

Kableshkov House, elegant home of

the leader of the April Rising

P Debelyanov House
ul. Dimcho Debelyanov. Tel (0359)
7184 2077. # 9:30am–5:30pm
Tue–Sun. &
This delightful house
set above the town
was the birthplace of
the Symbolist poet
Dimcho Debelyanov,
who was killed in
action in World War I.
The house con tains
per sonal posses sions,
such as books, photo-
graphs and paint ings,
including a portrait
of the poet by
Georgi Mashev.

P Bridge of the First Shot

ul. Todor Kableshkov.

A hallowed site in Bulgarian

history, this humpbacked

bridge in a quiet location

south west of the town centre

is the spot where the first

Turk was killed during the

April Rising.

bell rang out to announce

the beginning of the April

Rising. The church was built

in 1817 on the site of an

ear lier church that was

des troyed by the

kûrdzhali. Surrounded by

thick stone walls, it was

built slightly sunk en

into the ground so

as to comply with

Ottoman regulations

governing the height

of Christian churches.

The three-storey bell

tower was added

in 1896. The

church’s interior is

plain, but it has a superb ico-

nostasis by wood carvers of

the Tryavna School. Some

of its icons were painted by

Zahari Zograf. Tragically, the

church’s original murals were

replaced by newly painted

icons in the course of mis-

guided renovation.

Statue in the garden of

Debelyanov House

Detail of murals in

Lyutov House

P Lyutov House

ul. Nikola Belovezhdov 2. Tel (0359)

7184 2138. # 9:30am–5:30pm

Mon, Wed–Sun. &

Designed by master craftsmen

from Plovdiv in 1854, Lyutov

House features a huge curved

gable, symmetrical lay out and

decorative features of Plovdiv

architecture. In 1906, it was

acquired by Petko Lyutov, a

local merchant. The central

salon has an elliptical vaulted

ceiling edged with murals of

the cities that Lyutov visited.

The rooms on either side are

fur nished with Ottoman-style

benches and European furni-

ture. On the ground floor is